Question: Could you post a picture of your altar or your “area” please? And what’s your typical practice like? Thanks!
I sure can! 🙂
Luckily I’ve managed to get all the essential “tools” like a bell (I have two) and Motak (Mokugyo; wood drum), and of course a nice collection of statues 🙂
As far as my typical practice. This post is the basis of what I do and chant. It’s from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Chanting from the Heart, which just so happens to be (for the most part) the same text my Temple uses during services.
Smile and be well!
The table you’re using looks identical to mine. I don’t have quite so many items on my shrine (shown here: http://hickersonia.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/shrine-800×600-5-22-13.jpg).I’ve been reading a few of Thich Nhat Hanh’s works and I might have to see about getting a copy of Chanting from the Heart, which I hadn’t heard of before today. Thank you! 🙂
Our tables could be twins! But I think mine is a little bigger. Regardless, yours is just as functional as mine. Most of the stuff I have on the table, I’ve had for years – before I ever started fully practicing (I just collect stuff lol). And yes! You must get Chanting from the Heart. It’s a beautiful, big book and has almost every ceremony you’d need (Buddha’s birthday, ceremonies for deaths, new years, weddings – as well as beautiful recitations and gathas, and of course some very useful and short discourses at the end).